Presenting Onkgopotse JJ Tabane’s Let’s Talk Frankly: Letters to Influential South Africans About the State of Our Nation

South Africa has been in the grip of a worrying culture of acquiescence and silence after 1994. Such silence is largely driven by patronage and a misplaced sense of loyalty, to party politics across the political spectrum. It is clear that speaking out has been left to a few voices that are seen as having nothing to lose. This situation has seen the culture and quality of debate degenerating.

The addressees of the letters are South African people of influence who are called upon to use their public presence and role to change the course of events in society and improve the level of public discourse. They receive praise for work well done and are castigated for poor judgement and omissions in their public life and deliberations.

Let’s Talk Frankly expresses some home truths in a satirical and tongue-in-cheek manner and is meant to offend sensibilities as well as express things that people often say around dinner tables but are too cautious to say in public.

Featuring cartoons by Sifiso Yalo, who is best known for his work in the Sowetan.

“A no-holds-barred collection that adds value to the views available in the public arena and is designed to encourage vigorous debate – Mathatha Tsedu, the Director of the South African National Editors’ Forum